Gu Zhaoye still couldn’t figure it out.
It seemed to cross his mind—had Old Master Gu already left? But was that even normal?
This summit was a major event for the entire Gu family. Before departure, it wasn’t just about making a grand announcement to everyone, but at the very least, there should have been a farewell dinner to see him off.
Moreover, Old Master Gu couldn’t possibly have gone alone. He had long since stepped back from the family’s affairs, and now was the time to push the younger generation forward. Such an important occasion—wouldn’t he bring along the younger members of the Gu family to make an appearance? It didn’t make sense.
Frowning, he asked, “Did Grandfather leave any message?”
Gu Zhaoye had to admit that at this moment, a faint trace of unease flickered in his heart.
Before this, he had always believed that being sent to attend the summit was merely following the family’s arrangements—even something of a burden. He had to perform well on Old Master Gu’s orders, mingling with elders and dignitaries.
Gu Zhaoye had been a lone wolf in the business world for years. He was the one who gave others a hard time, never the one to endure theirs. Forcing himself to present his best side and attract investors was already a challenge.
So, after his last failed attempt to secure funding, his first instinct was to storm off in anger and shut himself away, instead of immediately addressing the issue or clearing up the misunderstanding with Chairman Hou.
Ridiculous. He was a domineering CEO—how could a man like him stoop to such things?
But now, with Old Master Gu vanishing without a word or any instructions, a sliver of panic finally crept into his heart. Yet he refused to believe his own nagging suspicion could be true.
Was Old Master Gu really not taking him? Would he truly miss this opportunity?
A restless irritation simmered in Gu Zhaoye’s chest. He had already lost Chairman Hou’s investment—where would the next chance come from? How would Yuanqi Technology continue to move forward?
If things went on like this, would he ever earn the family’s full approval to take over the Gu empire?
Since birth, he had told himself—and firmly believed—that he was the Gu family’s most distinguished and brilliant grandson, a born genius. Though he wasn’t sure where this assessment came from, everyone had praised him this way since childhood, and every business associate addressed him with the same reverent respect.
But lately, for some inexplicable reason, a subtle doubt had begun to gnaw at him, as if his position was under some hidden, unspoken threat.
Where was this threat coming from?
Before he could unravel the thought, Gu Zhaoye frowned at the security guard, waiting for an answer. But the guard only shook his head. “Second Young Master, Old Master left no message.”
Gu Zhaoye stood frozen for a long moment, his expression dark, still unable to make sense of it.
Just as he finally turned to leave with a cold face, the guard suddenly received a call, seemingly getting some instructions from the other end. After a few “uh-huhs,” he nodded in understanding.
Turning back, he called out, “Young Master! Second Young Master!”
Gu Zhaoye paused mid-step.
Of course. He knew Old Master Gu must have left some message after all—he had probably just been testing him earlier.
His polished shoes halted gracefully as he tilted his head slightly, waiting for the guard to relay Old Master Gu’s instructions.
Would he be told to arrange his own flight to Los Angeles? Or to meet Old Master Gu somewhere? Or perhaps to brace himself for a scolding?
The next steps were familiar to him.
He stood there calmly, but the words that followed were—
“Old Master said you’re to participate in the next season of Rich Families, Four Seasons! Oh, and don’t forget to complete Eldest Young Miss’s task properly—don’t embarrass her!”
The guard hung up, beaming at Gu Zhaoye.
In an instant—
A masterclass in facial transformation.
The composed, confident expression on Gu Zhaoye’s face vanished without a trace.
“What?”
Him? On that show? Did he look like he had nothing better to do?!
He had real work to handle, unlike Gu Zhaoping, who idled her days away! And what was this about completing Gu Zhaoping’s task without disgracing her? Since when did he have to take orders from her?
This was beyond absurd. He had never heard such an outrageous instruction in his life. In disbelief, he strode forward and snatched the communicator from the guard’s hand, ready to demand an explanation.
But the line had already been cut. The guard, startled, quickly retrieved the device. “Second Young Master, Old Master’s plane has taken off. You can’t reach him now. I swear I relayed everything exactly—here, listen to the recording.”
He pressed a button, and Old Master Gu’s voice played back through the speaker, repeating the same instructions word for word, leaving no room for misunderstanding.
After hearing this, Gu Zhaoye’s expression gradually darkened.
What did this mean?
If he went to participate in the show, where would Gu Zhaoping go? Wouldn’t he still have to collaborate with her?
Was Old Master Gu’s intention to have both him and Gu Zhaoping appear on the same program, mimicking Li Xunwen and Li Xunxi’s sibling duo to hype up some so-called sibling bond? The mere thought of it made him sick!
At this realization, Gu Zhaoye sharply inhaled, raising a hand to instinctively press against his face—even now, the lingering pain throbbed faintly. The idea of seeing Gu Zhaoping’s face again made the fury in his chest nearly impossible to suppress.
What rotten luck.
After taking several deep breaths, he finally managed to rein in his temper.
So, his grandfather wanted him and Gu Zhaoping to film the show together, did he? Fine. He’d go on the program again and see for himself. In the first episode, he’d arrived late and hadn’t fully grasped the rules, which had led to a slight disadvantage. But this time, he’d be there from start to finish—how could he possibly lose to anyone?
Since Old Master Gu had given the order, he’d humor him for now and placate his temper. The summit could wait.
There would be other opportunities in the future anyway. It wasn’t like skipping this one would erase him from the business world entirely. As long as Old Master Gu had chances to mingle with the big shots, he’d surely find a way to promote him eventually.
A family that had come this far wouldn’t neglect nurturing its successors, would it?
He quickly sent a message to Ruan Nian: "What’s the theme for the next episode?"
Ruan Nian replied blankly, "Extreme sports."
Only after a pause did she hurriedly ask, "Zhaoye, are you joining the next episode too?"
Gu Zhaoye responded with a faint "Mm."
Ruan Nian’s excitement instantly flared up.
So, he wasn’t leaving after all!
Extreme sports—that was perfect. In Gu Zhaoye’s memory, Gu Zhaoping had no skill or interest in such activities.
Though lately, it seemed Gu Zhaoping had secretly trained in some martial arts, making her strikes harder to counter.
But like Li Xunwen and Li Xunxi, he clung to a naive, blind confidence: if you’d never been interested in something before, you couldn’t possibly master it in such a short time.
Suppressing the inexplicable irritation and unease in his chest, Gu Zhaoye turned and left the sanatorium.
Meanwhile, aboard Old Master Gu’s private jet—
"Old Qi, Old Qi, bet you didn’t expect this—I brought Zhaoping along too!"
Old Master Gu sat before a chessboard, laughing heartily as he watched Master Qi across from him break into a cold sweat.
He then glanced at Gu Zhaoping beside him, her hands resting calmly on her knees, her expression composed, even carrying a hint of relaxed warmth in her smile.
Master Qi’s cheek twitched uncontrollably, while Old Master Gu’s delight was practically overflowing.
The elite circle of Harbor City was small, and he knew Master Qi was highly regarded among them. Many young heirs who took up chess sought him as a mentor.
That kid from the Li family—what was his name?—was apparently one of Old Qi’s disciples, rumored to have some talent, at least more than his own grandsons. Old Master Gu had once been envious, grumbling internally about why none of his own descendants showed such promise.
But now? Not a trace of envy remained. Watching Master Qi fidget and struggle, Old Master Gu couldn’t hide his glee, his mockery practically oozing from every pore.
After another round, Master Qi seemed ready to call it quits. Staring at the chess pieces, his hand trembled slightly before he finally said to Gu Zhaoping, "...Let’s take a break."
Gu Zhaoping smiled and nodded. "As you wish, Master Qi."
Master Qi shuddered—the honorific felt utterly undeserved.
Wiping his sweat, he retreated to the adjacent cabin to rest, with Old Master Gu following shortly after. Master Qi shot him a bitter, almost resentful look. "Had your fill of gloating yet?"
Old Master Gu tilted his head with an air of smug indifference.
"By the way, aren’t you bringing Gu Zhaoye or any of the other grandsons to the conference this time? Just Zhaoping?"
At this, Old Master Gu glanced back. Through the cabin door, Gu Zhaoping sat by the chessboard, calmly pouring tea into a cup—unhurried, poised, already carrying the bearing of a true leader.
"Don’t you think Zhaoping is reliable?" Old Master Gu asked without turning his gaze. Master Qi studied her for a long moment before sighing in resignation. "She is, indeed."
After spending this journey with her, he had to admit she was exceptionally astute and polished—he couldn’t find a single flaw.
"Do you know it was her who pointed out the issues with Gu Zhaoye's failed financing before?" Old Master Gu lowered his voice as he spoke, then murmured while watching Gu Zhaoping's retreating figure, "It just goes to show how dangerous stereotypes can be. In the past, we all dismissed Zhaoping as a rebellious, good-for-nothing troublemaker who couldn’t accomplish anything worthwhile, so we never paid her much attention. But lately, we’ve realized she’s full of talents and strengths—there’s nothing she can’t excel at."
Master Qi was taken aback. "That impressive?"
"And your family has no objections to this?"
"What objections could they possibly have?" Old Master Gu snapped out of his wistful musings, his tone laced with scorn and frustration. "A bunch of mediocrities, none of them half as sharp as their elder sister."
In the past, whether he was speaking with Gu Zhaoye or Gu Kaichang, Old Master Gu would always end up exasperated. It was as if they couldn’t grasp half of what he said, and tasks he entrusted to them were never fully executed to his expectations.
But Gu Zhaoping was different. She understood three layers of meaning from a single sentence. If he assigned her 50% of a task, she delivered 100%.
Because of this, even her beating up Gu Zhaoye was something Old Master Gu could turn a blind eye to.
Now he finally understood how teachers felt when they had a star student.
This summit was another test he had arranged—a chance to observe whether Gu Zhaoping truly lived up to her reputation and to uncover any hidden talents she might possess.
"True, I rarely see families bringing female heirs to these events. You’re certainly breaking the mold. I just wonder if Zhaoping might face any difficulties during networking?"
Master Qi actually held a favorable impression of Gu Zhaoping and regarded her highly. His comment wasn’t meant critically, just an offhand observation.
After all, in this world of corporate titans, real power and high positions were almost exclusively held by men. In such a novel, female figures in authority were practically nonexistent—unless they appeared as matriarchs, exerting control over their sons to maintain family dominance, much like Ruan Nian had speculated about Gu Zhaoping’s motives.
"No, no, not breaking the mold," Old Master Gu shook his head. "Breaking expectations—in the best way."
Master Qi was momentarily stunned.
He watched as Old Master Gu turned away, leaning on his cane, still not quite understanding why the old man held such high regard and expectations for Gu Zhaoping. But it wasn’t his place to question. Scratching his head, he figured since he couldn’t even beat her at chess, he might as well stay out of it.
Their private jet touched down in the city, and they were escorted by the event organizers to a luxurious estate hotel.
Old Master Gu said, "Over the next couple of days, attendees from around the world will be arriving, so things will be hectic. Rest up and prepare. Once the summit officially begins, I’ll introduce you to some of the senior figures."
This "preparation" naturally meant bringing her A-game—something Gu Zhaoping understood perfectly. She smiled gracefully and replied, "Of course, Grandfather."
Old Master Gu studied her for a moment longer. His words had carried an implicit message, and it seemed she had picked up on it.
This biennial summit was no small affair. Long before arriving, Gu Zhaoping had conducted thorough research on every relevant aspect. She had a hypothesis, but it wasn’t something she could confirm without firsthand discussions with the industry’s top players in energy.
Though she loved adventure, Gu Zhaoping was no reckless fool.
Old Master Gu watched as she and her assistant, Little Zhao, wheeled their luggage toward her private villa suite, a quiet pride swelling in his gaze.
This summit—he was genuinely eager to see what kind of impression Gu Zhaoping would leave on him and the world.
Gu Kaichang was also waiting for the answer to that question.
What impression would he leave on Grandfather and the world?
He had arrived in Los Angeles early, networking tirelessly to secure his place at the summit. With just two days left before the event, his impatience had grown unbearable. He kept waiting for Old Master Gu’s call, but it never came.
Pacing restlessly, Gu Kaichang finally caved and dialed the old man himself.
"Grandfather, when were you planning to arrive?"
The voice on the other end was calm. "I’m already here."
Gu Kaichang was stunned. How had he not heard a word about it? Was Grandfather trying to surprise him?
After a brief pause, he quickly added, "You’re here? Where are you staying? I’ll come greet you right away—prepare a proper welcome! Ah, this is my oversight, I should’ve asked earlier. Forgive me for letting you travel all this way without a younger family member by your side. How improper of me…"
"What are you embarrassed about?" Old Master Gu's tone was puzzled. For some reason, Gu Kaichang had suddenly started performing, even though no one had set the stage for him. "The organizers have already arranged everything. There's no need for you to host any welcome banquet."
Gu Kaichang froze for a moment before quickly forcing an awkward laugh. "Yes, yes, the organizers have thought of everything. You prefer a business-like style, Grandfather, not the flashy vacation vibe us youngsters go for. It doesn’t suit your refined taste."
Old Master Gu had no idea what nonsense Gu Kaichang was spouting now, suddenly fawning over him out of nowhere. He couldn’t be bothered to engage. "Enough. If you have something to say, say it. If not, hang up and go amuse yourself."
Strangely, after spending more time with Gu Zhaoping, Old Master Gu found it harder to tolerate even a few more words with a troublemaker like Gu Kaichang. Just a little longer, and he’d feel irritated.
Gu Kaichang hurriedly cut in before the old man could hang up. "Wait, wait—Grandfather, isn’t there something else you meant to say?"
"What else would I need to say?" Old Master Gu frowned. "Ah, right. There is one thing."
Gu Kaichang’s heart leaped, and he immediately held his breath, ears pricked.
But what came through the receiver next was:
"Once you’re done having your fun these next few days, go carouse with your usual crowd. Don’t bother me unnecessarily."
Old Master Gu delivered this calmly, yet even he felt a strange detachment. In the past, he would’ve scolded Gu Kaichang to hurry back home and find proper work. But now, he couldn’t care less whether Gu Kaichang did anything worthwhile—after all, someone else was handling the important matters.
Even if Gu Kaichang tried to take on serious work, he’d only embarrass himself. Why let him make a fool of himself and stir up trouble?
The old man mused that giving too much power to someone like Gu Kaichang, who lacked sense, would only lead to foolish decisions. A fool shouldn’t be given too much authority.
As a scion of a wealthy family, Gu Kaichang’s greatest achievement would be staying out of the way and not hindering his more capable siblings from pushing the family forward.
Self-awareness was a rare virtue.
Old Master Gu hung up, startled by his own shift in attitude, then felt a strange sense of acceptance.
This mindset felt familiar—hadn’t he once thought the same way about his granddaughter?
Gu Kaichang was dumbfounded.
It took him a moment to process what had just happened. When it finally sank in, he let out a shout. "Grandfather! Grandfather!"
"What about the Los Angeles summit? Weren’t you taking me? I’ve been waiting here for ages!"
"Grandfather, weren’t you planning to leave Gu Zhaoye behind? Doesn’t that mean you were taking me? I’ve been waiting for you!!"
But the call had already ended. Old Master Gu hadn’t heard a word. Gu Kaichang stared at his phone in disbelief.
He was dressed in a meticulously tailored suit, polished to perfection, having put in serious effort for this event—even hitting the gym to improve his posture. And now, without a word, his grandfather had hung up on him.
Panicked, Gu Kaichang immediately redialed, but the call wouldn’t go through.
Only then did he understand what "don’t bother me" truly meant. It was a literal block—no calls accepted today.
What about the summit? What about all his preparations? He’d already bragged to his friends and even lined up a business discussion with a potential partner. If he couldn’t attend, how would any of that happen?
Gu Kaichang was completely lost.
After a long pause, it finally hit him. Furious, he stomped his foot. Had Gu Zhaoye secretly buttered up the old man and taken his spot?
Seething, he immediately called his contacts back home, shouting, "Gu Zhaoye! What the hell did Gu Zhaoye do to win Grandfather over? If I find out, I swear I’ll challenge him to a duel!"
The thought of Gu Zhaoping only stoked his resentment further. Gnashing his teeth, he spat, "Those people from the main family are full of schemes! First, Gu Zhaoping hides his chess skills for years, and now Gu Zhaoye pulls this underhanded trick? Fine, they want to play dirty? Let’s see how this goes!"
"Gu Zhaoye’s in Los Angeles too, right? I’ll find a way to meet him and have a proper talk. Hah! I refuse to believe he’s managed to win Grandfather over despite all those scandals with his little girlfriend. What kind of trick did he pull…?"
But the person on the other end hesitated before cautiously correcting him, "Young Master… the second son of the main family, he’s still in the country?"
Gu Kaichang’s stream of curses suddenly died in his throat. His expression went blank for a moment—what? Gu Zhaoye was still in the country? He hadn’t come with Old Master Gu?
Stunned for a long moment, Gu Kaichang couldn’t decide whether to be ecstatic or utterly bewildered.
Old Master Gu had already arrived in Los Angeles, so how was Gu Zhaoye still back home? It wasn’t like he was that busy, needing to follow after the old man. Did he really have the audacity to act so high and mighty?
That left only one possibility—Gu Zhaoye genuinely hadn’t come along.
Gu Kaichang’s already not-so-deep mind went completely blank for a second before he snapped back to reality in disbelief. Could it be—?
He immediately called his younger brother, Gu Yingjie, throwing all their years of brotherly camaraderie and underhanded teamwork out the window:
“You little snake, Gu Yingjie! You actually went behind my back to butter up Old Master Gu? Get your ass over here right now, or I swear I’ll—”
Gu Yingjie was utterly baffled. He’d just finished a round of golf and hadn’t done a thing wrong, yet here he was, getting chewed out for no reason.
“Bro, what are you talking about? I haven’t done anything! I was just playing golf like a normal person.”
That innocent tone only stoked Gu Kaichang’s fury. He roared, “Oh, so now you’re rubbing it in my face that you’re in Los Angeles with Old Master Gu, schmoozing with energy industry big shots over golf? You think you’re so much better than me now, huh? Got the old man’s favor, got all the good connections—fine! If that’s how it is, we might as well not be brothers anymore—”
“Bro, bro, bro, hold on—what the hell are you saying?” Gu Yingjie, still clutching his golf club, was completely lost. He ducked into a secluded spot, shooting awkward glances at his friends, who were now staring at him strangely. Lowering his voice, he hissed, “My friends are right here! You’re being way too loud!”
“Your friends? Who cares if your friends are there? Even if your damn father were standing next to you, I’d still curse you out—”
Wait. Gu Kaichang abruptly paused mid-rant. If Gu Yingjie had been brought to Los Angeles by Old Master Gu, how did he have friends there already? Since when did he have that kind of pull?
Finally, Gu Yingjie snapped, his patience gone: “Bro, I’m literally just at a golf course near Haishi, playing a round with some buddies! What exactly did I do to deserve this?”
“You’re not abroad? Then why come after me? Even if you came back, it’d take at least an hour to drive from Haishi!”
Now it was Gu Kaichang’s turn to freeze. What? Gu Yingjie was still in the country too?
He stood there, dumbfounded, until his thoughts finally landed on the youngest brother, Gu Zhaosi, who was currently studying abroad.
Gu Kaichang was about to explode again—but Gu Zhaosi had long since blocked all their contact info. There was no way to reach that elusive little ghost.
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. Were the main family members really this scheming? Not only had they hidden Gu Zhaoping’s capabilities, but now, after Gu Zhaoye pissed off Old Master Gu, were they planning to push Gu Zhaosi forward as a replacement?
“Holy shit, did they send Gu Zhaosi abroad just to wait for this moment?!”
Fuming, Gu Kaichang mentally ran through every male member of the Gu family.
He cursed every single one of them.
Harassed every single one of them.
And yet, the real culprit never even crossed his mind.
——
Gu Zhaosi sneezed twice out of nowhere.
Disgusted, he wiped his nose with a tissue. His manager frowned in concern. “You’re not coming down with a cold, are you? If you go skiing while sick, you’ll wreck your health—and your voice is your most important asset.”
“I’m not sick. This little chill isn’t enough to take me down.” Gu Zhaosi replied flatly. He was the type of guy who strutted down the West Coast in ripped jeans mid-winter, underwear waistband on full display—no way was he bowing to a bit of cold weather. Besides, this was prime skiing season, and he had an image to maintain.
The manager sighed, knowing he couldn’t argue. “Fine. But that backcountry slope you’re heading to has gotten really popular lately. Rumor is a lot of people from back home are flocking there, and there might even be filming crews around. Be careful not to pick fights—we can’t afford to crash and burn before we even make our grand return.”
Gu Zhaosi waved him off impatiently. “Come on, how bad do you think my temper is? And let’s be real—my luck isn’t that good either.”
Under his manager’s worried gaze, Gu Zhaosi grabbed his luggage—and his unfinished thesis—and boarded the plane to Los Angeles.
——
Socializing was an art.
And when it involved status and vested interests, it became a delicate, intricate discipline worthy of deep study.
Gu Zhaoping accompanied Old Master Gu to meet several prominent figures from the global energy industry. Though they hailed from different countries, all were well-acquainted with Old Master Gu’s reputation, having collaborated with him in the past. This gathering was more of a reunion among old friends, and the atmosphere was lively.
When they noticed the young woman standing beside Old Master Gu, they offered polite smiles and nods, assuming she was either a favored assistant or a beloved junior family member there merely as a symbolic presence.
To their surprise, the young woman confidently extended her hand to each of them in turn, exchanging firm handshakes as Old Master Gu made the introductions.
Some were momentarily taken aback before finally directing their attention to Gu Zhaoping.
It wasn’t until they met her gaze, shook her hand, and engaged in conversation that they noticed her fluent, native-like pronunciation, composed demeanor, relaxed tone, and the effortless poise she carried.
A realization slowly dawned on a few—this was someone positioned as an heir. Their attitudes shifted subtly in response.
The gathering had been arranged by Old Master Gu in a tea room. Gu Zhaoping sat beside him in the host’s seat, not relegated to a subordinate position as a mere observer, as might be expected of a younger attendee.
What further surprised them was the deviation from tradition. Tea ceremonies, a cultural hallmark, were typically performed by a young woman—whether a professional practitioner or a junior member of the host’s family.
The artistry of tea-making often showcased the performer’s grace and hospitality, and they had witnessed many such demonstrations over the years.
This time, however, was different. The young woman beside Old Master Gu wasn’t dressed in an exquisite gold-embroidered qipao, nor did she wear delicate makeup. She didn’t follow convention by gracefully seating herself to perform a picturesque ritual for their appreciation.
Instead, she wore a simple, well-tailored white outfit and sat quietly, watching alongside them as a young, refined male tea master demonstrated the art of gongfu tea.
The tea master had fair skin, delicate features, and a clear, serene gaze—as if he had been steeped in tea his entire life. His long, slender hands moved deftly as he wore traditional attire.
Not a trace of fragrance clung to him, ensuring it wouldn’t interfere with the tea’s aroma.
Securing such a prestigious role was highly competitive. He had trained for over a decade to earn the privilege of performing before these distinguished guests, and his focus was unwavering.
Yet, when serving tea to the group, he offered Gu Zhaoping an extra courteous smile as he poured hers.
—Naturally. What else could he do? Smile warmly at a room full of men averaging fifty years in age?
Gu Zhaoping didn’t spare him a second glance. She lifted her cup, sipped quietly, and without elaborating on the tea’s origin or craftsmanship, simply remarked, “Good tea.”
The tea master, as if validated, began a soft-spoken explanation. His voice, honed through years of daily practice, was mellow and clear, his pacing deliberate, his delivery methodical—and in three languages.
It was a masterful performance, a treasured tradition. Yet, as the guests drank, an odd sensation crept over them. Something about the dynamic felt off, unlike the usual flow of such events.
After all, they weren’t the intended audience for this display. The appreciation of the art was confined to the tea itself, leaving them somewhat disengaged.
It seemed Gu Zhaoping was the only one truly being served by the tea master’s efforts.
Only when the tea master set aside his tools and quietly began burning incense did the peculiar tension gradually dissipate.
Then, Gu Zhaoping introduced herself.
“I’m Gu Zhaoping. I serve as a financial consultant at Yuanqi Technology, a subsidiary of our family’s conglomerate, primarily overseeing financial strategy and risk management. I’m also involved in the family trust fund, focusing on asset allocation and succession planning.”
Old Master Gu added, “This is my eldest granddaughter.”
Gu Zhaoping gave a slight nod. The guests, snapping out of their thoughts, reciprocated with nods of their own.
Those who wielded power didn’t need to perform—unless they chose to.
Her introduction made it clear: Gu Zhaoping held significant standing within the family.
How strange. Wasn’t it Gu Zhaoye who used to represent them before?
But every prominent family had its share of power struggles and internal rivalries. They tactfully avoided the subject, steering the conversation elsewhere.
Gu Zhaoping had been noticing something peculiar—this CEO-themed world seemed to lag at least a decade behind the one she originally came from. The disparities she could exploit were countless, almost unimaginable.
"The theme of this summit is to focus on the transformation of the energy landscape and seek breakthroughs in new energy technology. Honestly, this meeting should have happened years ago. But despite being held for several years, there hasn’t been much progress. Everyone has ideas, but most aren’t feasible at this stage. The main issue is that without technological breakthroughs, new energy can’t be widely adopted."
"Exactly. Battery technology is still stuck at a bottleneck. We lack strong battery manufacturing companies, which keeps the cost of new energy technology high and prevents large-scale production."
This was right up Gu Zhaoping’s alley—she knew exactly where the technology was stuck.
Coincidentally, Gu Zhaoping was someone plagued by a thirst for knowledge and a fear of falling behind. For every emerging industry or technology she invested in, she felt an obsessive need to understand it thoroughly.
She had to grasp the principles and operational rules before she could confidently invest.
She might not be a professional, but at least she could judge whether a direction was right or wrong.
And as luck would have it, she had worked in this very industry before.
"This time, our Yuanqi Technology, representing the Gu Group, is raising this issue at the conference. We’ve been paying attention and have a direction we want to pursue."
The others were stunned—even Old Master Gu was taken aback.
He turned to look at Gu Zhaoping, wondering when she had made these preparations.
When it came to new energy, cars were inevitable—and she had invested in automakers before.
"Previously, I led a team to inspect a new energy vehicle production line. The main issues we found were low battery energy density, limited range, inadequate management systems, significant thermal runaway risks, and a lack of infrastructure and smart technology..."
Gu Zhaoping spoke without noticing Old Master Gu’s widening eyes. "Yuanqi Technology and Aurora Green Energy Group have identified this technological gap and plan to work toward solving it..."
At first, the others weren’t particularly interested—it was just the same old topic. But as they listened, they grew more engrossed, even dumbfounded.
Gu Zhaoping’s explanation was so detailed that it seemed entirely actionable—as if all they had to do was follow her lead to realize this grand vision. Yet, if they tried to figure it out themselves, the path forward wasn’t nearly as clear.
Old Master Gu started off surprised, but by the end, his eyes were practically popping out of his head.
He stared at his granddaughter in disbelief. For a moment, he genuinely wondered if some supernatural entity had possessed her—no, not just any entity, but some kind of divine being!
Since when had his granddaughter become so capable? So strategic, so composed?
She pointed the way without revealing any core details, speaking in a way that made the future sound bright—yet left everyone unsure exactly how to get there.
"...We expect to collaborate with multiple companies during this summit." Gu Zhaoping paused, as if she had more to say, then added, "If anyone’s interested, feel free to reach out after the discussion."
Watching the room full of industry leaders hang on her every word—some fascinated, others as stunned as he was—Old Master Gu muttered to himself: This isn’t logical.
Gu Zhaoping’s transformation was like swallowing some kind of 20-year cultivation elixir, propelling her straight to mastery. Even he couldn’t articulate some of the things she was saying.
Today’s gathering was supposed to be a casual networking event, not an in-depth exchange. But Gu Zhaoping’s brief presentation had already drawn intense interest.
As people flocked to her, continuing the discussion, Old Master Gu felt almost dazed.
For a second, he even questioned whether he’d been slacking off all these years, spending his retirement raising mosquitoes and playing chess in the sanatorium.
Only Gu Zhaoping shone like the morning sun at nine or ten—warm, radiant, dazzling. Full of vitality, yet never reckless.
Her words were calm and unhurried, carrying an undeniable guiding force. She never used coercive language, yet people couldn’t help but agree with her.
Wanting to refute her or raise questions required careful consideration, as if every word had to be weighed thoughtfully.
"Zhaoping," Old Master Gu couldn't help but ask once the others had dispersed, "Was all this preparation done over the past few days?"
"Not just these past few days, Grandfather. I’ve been preparing for a long time," Gu Zhaoping replied. Old Master Gu was momentarily stunned. While his grandson Gu Zhaoye had been busy entangled with a starlet, playing out some romantic drama, his eldest granddaughter had been quietly working on these plans, preparing for this meeting?
Truthfully, no matter how much she had prepared before, she hadn’t been certain she’d get the chance to present herself this time. But opportunity favors the prepared.
Old Master Gu suddenly felt a swell of emotion. Whatever Zhaoping had been doing all this while, she hadn’t let the opportunity slip away.
As the two of them got into the car and drove off, the young tea master in traditional attire finally withdrew his gaze.
These days, such receptions were frequent. Whenever the Gu family hosted foreign guests, they often chose him as the accompanying tea master—his skills were the finest, and among all the tea masters, he was the most diligent, the most reserved, the most suited for such occasions.
Yet he couldn’t help but sigh.
Today, he had encountered a remarkably capable female CEO.
He couldn’t resist offering her a smile, even though her eyes seemed to pass right over him. Still, he smiled—as if it were an instinctive, subtle gesture of admiration and submission toward an undeniable force.
He hoped to see her again.
Just once more.
After wrapping up here, Gu Zhaoping returned to the estate hotel and found messages from both Liang Zhiwei and Chu Yanze waiting for her.
"Zhaoping-jie, we’re setting off!"
"Oh, and Gu Zhaoye seems to be joining us for the long haul—at least for this episode."
"This time we’re heading to North America, to a famous backcountry snowfield. I think the theme for this episode is skiing?"
Liang Zhiwei sounded nervous: "I don’t know how to ski. I’ve been practicing the last couple of days, but I still can’t stand steady. I’ll do my best—hope I won’t drag you down!"
Meanwhile, Chu Yanze had sent a message too, accompanied by a picture of his ski instructor certification.
"Don’t worry, Zhaoping-jie."
Just that one line, and he’d already won.
This was the quiet confidence he kept hidden.
Then, after a long pause—as if he’d been staring at the chat screen, feeling the silence was too cold—three whole minutes passed before he sent another message: an anime character puffing out its chest proudly, surrounded by sparkling effects.
It was a little dorky. Maybe even a little cute. Completely unlike his usual demeanor. But he sent it anyway.
And then waited anxiously for Zhaoping-jie to see it.
He just didn’t want to leave things so stiff.
Gu Zhaoping glanced at the messages during a break and replied: "Got it. No need to stress. Winning or losing doesn’t matter—I’ve got your backs."
What a coincidence. Now, it seemed, everyone had gathered near this city.
